Pneumatic action for pipe-organs



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

.P. F. SCHOENSTEIN. PNBUMATIC ACTION FOR PIPE oReANs.

No. 510,521. Patented Dee. 12, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. 1:". SCHOBNSTEIN. PNEUMATIG ACTION POR PIPE ORGANS. No. 510,521.

Patented Deo. 12, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FELIX F. SCHOENSTEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIPE-ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,521, dated December 12, 1893.

Application filed October l5, 1891.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FELIX F. SoHoENsTEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementszin Pneumatic Actions for Pipe-Organs, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in organ actions of that kind in which the key acts on its own proper valve in the wind-chest through the medium of an impulse of air under pressure conveyed or transmitted through a tube, or conductor; and the invention has for its object, mainly, to secure a prompt movement and quick response of the valve to its key both in opening and in closing, and also a full and even throw, or lift, of the valve at each movement particularly in rapid passages and repetitions of the same note.

The nature of my improvements and the manner in which I proceed to construct and apply the same in carrying out my invention are explained in the following description in which the accompanying drawings are referred to by figures and letters.

The principal part or feature of my improvements consists of a pneumatic windchest having a pressure and a suction, or eX- haust, chamber and passages, or channels, communicating with both chambers but controlled by alternately acting valves with which the levers of the key-board or manual are directly connected, each key controlling by its valves both the admission of air from the pressure chamber into a tubular con-l ductor communicating with a valve-operatin g mechanism at the main, or organ, wind-chest and the exhaust or discharge of the air from the conductor into the exhaust-chamber. I have termed and shall refer to these two chambers and the communicating channels as the pneumatic wind-chest to distinguish this part from the Wind-chest of the organ. Each key being connected to its own individual valve in the two chambers opens the pressure-chamber to the tubular conductor when the key is depressed, but closes communication with the exhaust-chamber, while on the contrary movement when the pressure is taken from the key the outlet from the pressure-chamber is closed and the tubular Serial No. 408,838. (No model.)

conductorisconnected with the exhaust-chamber. Every key-lever of the key-board in each manual of the organ is provided with and acts upon its own proper set of valves in the pneumatic wind-chest, and there are as many channels with valves-controlling communication between the channels and the two chambers as there are notes in the stop. These wind-chests are arranged one over the other beneath the inner ends of the key-levers, one chest for each manual.

Figure l of the drawings represents in vertical transverse section wind-chests for two manuals and the tubular conductors leading from each chest to the organ wind-chest. The keys of the manual and their valves and connections in the upper wind-chest are not shown. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-section through the organ wind-chest and shows one of the valves and the pneumatic operating mechanism at the end of the tubular conductor that is connected with the pneumatic wind-chest, the valve being seated. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the position of the parts when the valve is opened. Fig. l represents on an enlarged scale a cross-section through the pneumatic wind-chest with the pneumatic conductor of one channel open to the pressure chamber and closed to the exhaust chamber. Fig. 5 represents in front view a portion of one of the pneumatic windchests with the front broken away at one end and the parts in section. Fig. G is a top view of Fig. with the cover ot' the pressure-chamber broken awa-y at one end of the chest. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the inner end of a key-lever and its connection.

A indicates the pneumatic wind-chest, B a channel board that divides the chest into a pressure chamber C and an exhaust, or suction, chamber CX. Slots, passages or channels BX in the part B are open to both chambers and are fitted with valves D E one on the pressure side and the other on the exhaust side. Each channel is furnished with two valves which are coupled together by a rod g and are adjusted to seat alternately, one being open when the other is closed. The upper valve D of each set is connected to its own proper key IV in the manual above by the Wire G and a rod and stickerX,as shown in Fig. 1.

IOO

I-I is a metal tube or pipe which I have termed the pnuematic conductor, leading from the channel BX to the valve-operating mechanism at the organ wind-chest Z. The mechanical means which I have applied to move the valve by the pneumatic pressure transmitted through the pipe consists of a small valve-operating bellows I, and rods and lever connections J J X K work a roll-board L to which the valve Y is connected.

The pneumatic conductors are carried from the channels BX to the organwind chests either in direct lines or by bends and turns as may be found convenient. Elbows or couplings M of wood or of metal are used to make angular turns, and in some cases flexible couplings NX, of rubber tubing or similar material are employed to advantage to run the con-l D E and to cause them to seat closely with- The ends of the conductor H are attached y ductor at an angle or change its direction.

to the channel board by thimbles m permanently fixed in the bottom board of the channel and having suitable amount of projection outside to receive the ends ofthe conductors. These parts are fitted to produce an air-tight l joint, and a packing between the end of the conductor and the bottom of the chest may be used for that purpose if desired. Screw couplings or any other character of coupling that will allow the conductors to be detached if necessary could be employed in place of the,l

form of joint shown.

By setting the conductors in the alternate manner shown in the drawings (see Figs. 5, and 6) they are brought more closely together and a greater number of tubes and pipes can be placed in a chest of given length than could be done if they were in a single row. In this arrangement one conductor leads from the bottom of the channel and the next in the numberlead's from the end of its channel through a passage b cut in the end block.

The chamber C is connected with the outer atmosphere by a trunk or a pipe coupled to the outlet R, in which case it is an exhaustchamber, or it is connected with the suction side of the bellows or with the air-forcing apparatus that supplies the pneumatic chamber C, in which case the pressure in the conductor p is reduced more rapidly than by ordinary exhaustion, or discharge without suction. Such mode of accelerating the return motion of the air in the tubes tends to greater delicacy of action in the key especially in repetitions of the same note. The ordinary exhaust-chamber will work to good advantage where short conductors can be used; but for stops located at some distance from the action and requiring long conductors, and in organs where the key-board is at considerable distance from the instrument, the suction-chamber will insure a quick and certain response of the pipe-controlling valve toits key. As thus constructed and applied it will be seen that each .key of the key-board controls byits individual channel and valves both the flow of air from the pressure-chamber into the pneumatic conductor that runs to the valve of the organ wind-chest and also the discharge or escape of air from the same conductor into the exhaust or suction chamber. Hardness of action in the key is relieved and an elastic touch is produced by interposing an elastic connection between the key and the sticker. This attachment is formed of a hat spring tongue S, fixed at one end S to the top of the key-lever, and having an oft-set near the point of fixture to throw the spring above the top of the key. To the free end of the spring is attached the wire of the sticker, apertures being made in the end of the key and in the spring to pass the wire through, and a check nut t is placed on the threaded end of the wirerfor adjusting the key. This spring serves to take up any inequality in the movement of the two valves out acting abruptly upon the key so that the touch is rendered smooth and quite elastic.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv Y 1.l In combination with the key-levers, the pneumatic wind-chest having pressure and exhaust chambers, the channel board having channels or passages corresponding in number with the keys, the valves D E, connections G g X, tubes oriconductors H, closed bellows I connected with said tubes H, levers J X and K connected by rod J and sound-controlling organ-valves Y operated bysaid le` vers when the bellows are opened and closed, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. A pneumatic action for pipe organs consist-ing of a pneumatic wind-chest located at the rear end -of the manual or key-boardhaving pressure chamber above and an exhaust chamber below, a channel-board Vbetween said chambers having channels or passages opening into both chambers and corresponding in number to the key-levers of the manual or key-board,la pressure valve upon a-nd an exhaust valve beneath each channel connected with each other and with its proper keylever and adapted to open the'channel to the pressure chamber as the key is depressed and to open the channel to theexhaust as the key is released, a tube -or conductor from each channel to'the sound-controlling valve at the organ wind-chest, and mechanism connected with the valve at the wind-chest yto open the valve by the pneumatic pressure transmitted through the conductor and to seat it by suction when the conductor is open to the exhaust, substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. The combination with an organ manual or key-board, of a pneumatic pressure chamber and an exhaust or suction chamber, individual channels or passages common to said chambers, individual tubes or conductors connecting the valve-operating mechanism at the organ wind-chest with said channels or passages, pressure and exhaust valves between leach channel and the pressure chamber and IOO IIO

exhaust chamber respectively; a link longer than and extending through said channel and connecting said valves together, and a Wire leading from each pressure valve to the rear end of its key, substantially as and for operation as set fort-h.

4. The combination with an organ manual or key-board, of a pneumatic pressure chamber and an exhaust or suction chamber, individual channels or passages common to said chambers, individual tubes or conductors connecting the valve-operating mechanism at the organ wind-chest with said channels or passages, pressure and exhaust valves between each channel and the pressure chamber and exhaust chamber respectively; alink longer than and extending through said channel and connecting said valves together, a Wire leading from the pressure valve, a sticker connected to said wire and leading loosely through the rear end of its key, and an elastic tongue upon said rear end supporting the sticker with yielding force, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the key-levers, the pneumatic Wind-chest having pressure and exhaust chambers, the channel board B, having channels or passages l??1 corresponding in number with the keys, the valves D E, connections G g X, tubes or conductors H,

and valve mechanism adapted to operate the sound-controlling valves of the organ, substantially as hereinbe'fore described.

6. In an organ mechanism, a key-lever having a vertical hole through its rear end, and 35 a spring tongue secured at one end upon said lever with its free end perforated above said hole; combined with a sticker passing loosely upward through said hole and perforation, a check nut adjustable on the sticker above the tongue, and connections substantially as described between the sticker and the organ valves, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with the key-lever, an elastic tongue and a rod or connection attached to said tongue through the key-lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A key-lever having a yielding connection to take the rod or sticker, consisting of a spring tongue secured at one end to the key-lever, and provided with an aperture or means to attach the end of the rod to the free end, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

FELIX F. SCHOENSTEIN. [L.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, Cnr-is. E, KELLY. 

